There are legends we only hear about in history—whispered stories of extraordinary individuals whose talent seems almost mythic.
But then, there’s the rare experience of witnessing a living legend still in action, celebrated for their craft while they are very much alive.
This was the case at the recent RWB (Rauh-Welt Begriff) event at Karrera Showroom, where Nakai-san, the visionary behind the custom widebody Porsche empire, demonstrated why he is hailed as a legend in the world of automotive design.
An Aura That Commands Attention
After years of watching videos of Nakai-san and following his RWB work, seeing him in person was an entirely different experience. There was an aura about him that commanded attention without asking for it.
The crowd, reverently hushed, gathered to watch him transform a Porsche into something that transcended the car world—an art piece infused with his signature rawness and aggression.
It wasn’t just his exceptional skill; it was the quiet intensity and absolute focus he exuded, making him seem more like an artist working on a canvas than a mechanic tweaking bolts.
No Masterplan, No Process, Only Instinct
There were no blueprints to follow—Nakai-san seemingly had it all in his head, without drafts or measurements, relying solely on his intuition and years of experience. His process appeared both chaotic and precise
One moment, he was lounging in his famous armchair, thoughtfully puffing on a cigarette; the next, he was up and working, attacking the car with a mix of nonchalance and purpose, like a sculptor chiseling away at marble.
Seeing A Master In Action
Watching him work in person is incomparable to seeing him in videos, and no article can fully capture the depth of the experience. Over hours, we witnessed him transform Porsche after Porsche from an understated, beautiful machine into a bold, angular, and monstrous masterpiece
The RWB event spanned a week, and within that short time, Four Porsche 911s were built in black, white, yellow, and, finally, gold. It blows your mind how fast he works, completing so many cars in such a short time.
Pushing The Limits of Craftsmanship
He was undoubtedly pushed to the limit, and I’m sure his brain must have short-circuited at some point—especially since each car was built differently, each given its own unique RWB look.
My personal favorite was the Carrera dubbed RWB REIDO, with its striking two-tone theme of neon yellow and white. It was like a match made in heaven.
It gave off the perfect Speed Racer aesthetic, from the yellow headlamps to the neon Brixton rims, all paired with that unmistakable RWB widebody.
The Focused Aura of Nakai-San
No video or humble interview can fully encompass the experience of seeing this legend’s focus on his craft in person.
At every step of the process, Nakai would sit down in his infamous armchair, smoking a cigarette while intensely visualizing the next phase of the build.
We know that most of the parts are shaped and shipped from his garage in Japan, and that a vision for the car is already established before he even arrives. Yet, watching him work, it’s clear that there’s still so much room for thought and adjustment when it comes to fitting the body molds to the actual car.
The Precision of a Legend
I get it—mentally and visually, you need to prepare to cut and puncture the car in precisely the right places. If car owners’ hearts break watching their Porsches being cut up, imagine what goes through Nakai’s mind, knowing he cannot afford a single wrong move if he’s to achieve the vision he’s planned.
As I watched Nakai-san, I realized his process is more like a dance than mere craftsmanship. Every cut he made seemed deliberate yet relaxed, like he channeled the car’s final shape from some unseen dimension.
A Legacy in the Making
It became easy to understand why RWB Porsches, each with their uniquely aggressive wide-body kits, carry his unmistakable fingerprint.
Over the years, he has inspired countless others with his voice, vision, and unparalleled skills—none of which can truly be replicated.
I’m sure I’ll witness him build more Porsches in the years to come, but when Nakai finally constructs his last RWB Porsche, he will forever be a part of car culture history, inspiring future generations to create their own bold interpretations of the Rough World style.